The new Spanish HKDSE exam: How long do I need to prepare if I am starting from scratch?

1.    What is the new HKDSE exam for Spanish and which level should students obtain?

The new arrangements made to the “Other Languages” indicate that HKDSE candidates must take the language examinations with an official cultural organisation recommended by the respective Consulate General (CG). Regarding the Spanish language the examination that students need to take is the DELE exam for young learners (A2/B1 level), designed for students between 11 and 17 years old. The certificate is valid indefinitely and is recognized internationally. A single exam that offers a double exit, according to the scores obtained. It offers candidates the possibility to obtain either the DELE level A2 or B1, depending on their results. In other words, it is possible to qualify for one of two levels of reference by taking a single exam.

A2 minimum required score:

Group 1: Reading + Writing: 20 points

Group 2: Listening + Speaking: 20 points

B1 minimum required score:

Group 1: Reading + Writing: 36 points

Group 2: Listening + Speaking: 36 points

Candidates should enroll themselves directly with the examination administrators of the stipulated language examinations according to the schedule of the examinations. The HKDSE accepts results obtained in the language examinations taken within two years preceding the HKDSE the candidate sits. If a candidate takes the exam more than once at the same or diffrent levels, only the highest level and result attained will be reported under the HKDSE Category C subjects.

2.    How long in advance do I need to prepare for the HKDSE Spanish (DELE A2/B1 exam for young learners) if I start from scratch?

DELE exams are formulated following the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and the Manual for relating language exams to the CEFR.

DELE diplomas are formulated following the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and are divided into 6 levels

To reach the A2 level which is the level necessary to qualify for the HKDSE, 240 hours of teaching/learning are required on average; and for the B1, 420 hours.

In order to reach a A2 level students learning Spanish in a group class environment in our school at The Spanish cultural Association of Hong Kong would need 3 years approximately. Group classes have lesson 4 times per month, each lesson is 1.5 hours, total 6 hours a month.

For the B1 level, students joining a group class studying 6 hours a month would need 5 years approximately to get the level.

If instead of joining a group lesson students take private lessons, they will reach A2 level in around 2 years and a half and B1 in around 4 years since they will cover the course contents faster on a private lesson basis.

3.    HKDSE Spanish (DELE A2/B1 for young learners’) structure

The exam has 4 parts:

1.    Reading comprehension

2.    Listening conprehension

3.    Written expresión and interaction

4.    Oral expresión and interaction

Reading comprehension
50 minutes	4 tasks	25% of the final mark

Task 1
Activity performed by the candidate	Read nine short texts and relate six of them to the six declarations or statements they correspond to
Text read by the candidate	Personal, public or educational environment. Text length: 40-60 words

Task 2
Activity performed by the candidate	Read three texts and relate them to the six statements or questions that correspond to eachone
Text read by the candidate	Personal or public context. Length: 100-120 words each text.

Task 3
Activity performed by the candidate	Read a text and respond to six inquiries, each offering three answers
Text read by the candidate	Personal or educational field. Length: 450-500 words

Task 4
Activity performed by the candidate	Read a text that has seven gaps and select one of the three choices presented for each gap
Text read by the candidate	Personal or public sphere. Length: 150-200 words

Listening comprehension
35 minutes	4 tasks	25% of the final mark

Task 1
Activity performed by the candidate	Listen to seven dialogues and respond to seven enquiries, each featuring three choices (four accompanied by images and three by text)
Text listened by the candidate	Personal, public or educational environment. Extension: 70-90 words each dialogue

Task 2
Activity performed by the candidate	Listen to six messages and connect them to six out of the nine sentences that are provided
Text listened by the candidate	Personal or public sphere Extension: 40-60 words each monologue

Task 3
Activity performed by the candidate	Listen to a conversation and match six assertions with the individual they relate to (male, female, or neither)
Text listened by the candidate	Personal or public sphere Extension: 250-300 words

Task 4
Activity performed by the candidate	Listen to three new segments and respond to six enquiries, each accompanied by three answers
Text listened by the candidate	Personal or public sphere Extension: 250-300 words

Written expression and interaction
50 minutes	2 tasks	25% of the final mark

Task 1
Activity performed by the candidate	Compose a letter or message for an online forum, email, or blog that can include a narration or description Suggested length: 60-70 words
Material provided	Instructions A written text may be delivered in the form of a note, ad, correspondence, or message (email, discussion, social media post, blog publication…) that acts as the foundation for the creation of the output text Extension: 70-90 words

Task 2
Activity performed by the candidate	Compose a piece, wether it be an essay, diary entry, biography, which may feature either description or narration, sharing information and individual opinion Suggested length: 110-130 words The applicant will select one of two themes offered, each of them distinct in nature
Material provided	Instructions to follow to write the output text

Oral expression and interaction
12 minutes preparation	4 tasks	25% of the final mark

Task 1
Activity performed by the candidate	The applicant selects an option from two alternatives and makes a brief monologue describing a photo
Material provided	A photo that captures a situation of daily life Guidelines regarding the description content

Task 2
Activity performed by the candidate	The candidate participates in a brief and informal conversation, in a hypothetical context, related to the previous task topic
Material provided	Document illustrating a situation in which the applicant is assigned a certain role and the examiner holds a different one

Task 3
Activity performed by the candidate	The applicant delivers a short monologue describing elements and experiences of daily life in relation to a specific theme
Material provided	Document with a topic and guidelines about the presentation content

Task 4
Activity performed by the candidate	The candidate is interviewed and answers enquiries related to the previous presentation
Material provided

Good luck to all candidates on their Spanish HKDSE exams!